CEBU CITY, Philippines – National Basketball Association (NBA) Hall of Famer Gary Payton made the dreams of the girls and boys basketball teams of the Abellana National School (ANS) come true when he dropped by the public school for a couple of minutes, Wednesday, November 23, and gave them some words of encouragement.
“Just keep on working,” Payton told the girls and boys who were practicing their plays when he arrived. “Some days you don’t like it, deal with it.”
Payton, who was honored by the NBA as the 1995-96 Defensive Player of the Year, visited the public school as part of an NBA Cares event.
The NBA legend further added that “we see you guys over here, we know you are good, that is why we come here.”
Brayden Smith, the Grade 11 center of the ANS boys basketball team, said that he was very excited when he learned that he will get to meet Payton as he would be the first NBA player that he gets to be up close and personal.
“He told us to keep working hard, to never give up, that there are lots of other players better than us so we should keep working hard,” said Smith who stands as tall as the former NBA star at 6-feet and 4 inches.
Florence Jil Talas got tongue tied when she was introduced to Payton who was told that she was one of the female all-stars of the Junior WNBA presented by the Alaska All-star Teams.
Payton had put his arms on Talas’ shoulders while he was told of her achievements and Talas looked thunderstruck.
Later, the 14-year-old hoopster said that she got so nervous in meeting Payton, despite having met several other NBA players last October when she went to China as part of the Junior WNBA All-Stars to watch a game between the Houston Rockets and New Orleans Pelicans.
After conversing a little bit more with the players, Payton left but not before giving the school 4 autographed balls.
Some of the boys and girls admitted that they were not so familiar with Payton but they got excited when they learned who he was and what he achieved in the NBA.
Smith, for his part, said that he was already familiar with Payton as he was one of the players that he watches on Youtube.
The NBA legend is in town for the NBA Store opening here in Cebu located at the Ayala Center Cebu. The store, which was opened last night for VIP guests, is the fourth NBA Store here in the Philippines and the first outside Metro Manila. It is also the first in the Visayas region. – Rappler.com
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